{"id":100094,"date":"2026-04-11T09:00:43","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T16:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/?p=100094"},"modified":"2026-04-11T07:01:57","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T14:01:57","slug":"no-holy-fire-is-not-holy-but-a-hoax","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/doctrine\/no-holy-fire-is-not-holy-but-a-hoax\/","title":{"rendered":"No, &#8216;Holy Fire&#8217; is not holy, but a hoax"},"content":{"rendered":"<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Happening now: the Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.<\/p>\n<p>Thousands of Eastern Orthodox Christians from around the world participate in the Holy Fire Ceremony in Jerusalem \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf1<\/p>\n<p>We wish all those celebrating Orthodox Easter a meaningful and peaceful\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/QRYZKqfegR\">pic.twitter.com\/QRYZKqfegR<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IsraelMFA\/status\/1786724190654984316?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 4, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/cogwriter.htm\">COGwriter<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Emperor Constantine&#8217;s Council of Nicea declared in 325, that instead of the biblical date, a Sunday date should be observed&#8211;so most of the world&#8217;s churches have complied with that improper &#8220;tradition of men&#8221; over scripture, though they have date disagreements.<\/p>\n<p>Thus, tomorrow is celebrated as Pascha by the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/orthodox.htm\">Eastern\/Greek Orthodox<\/a> (which is the Greek word for <a href=\"\/passover.htm\">Passover<\/a>) and was celebrated as &#8216;<a href=\"\/easter.htm\">Easter<\/a>&#8216; by Protestants and Roman Catholics last Sunday. The day before their Pascha (which is today this year) the Orthodox believe a miracle occurs, which they call &#8216;Holy Fire.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>Here is something related to it:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p data-testid=\"paragraph-0\">April 11, 2026<\/p>\n<p>With a significantly lower number of pilgrims than usual\u2014reminiscent of the COVID-19 period\u2014and amid a strong police presence, the Holy Fire Ceremony took place today at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, due to the ongoing war in the region over the past two months.<\/p>\n<p>Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III of Jerusalem emerged from the church holding lit torches, bearing 33 candles, distributing the Holy Fire to the faithful present and conveying the message of hope and the Resurrection. https:\/\/orthodoxtimes.com\/come-receive-the-light-the-miracle-unfolds-in-jerusalem-video-upd\/<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>This ceremony was not part of the original Christian faith and is a fraud.<\/p>\n<p>For many years, I have denounced this and said it was &#8220;not a miracle&#8221; (Thiel B. <a title=\"Permanent Link to Orthodox Being Misled About \u201cHoly Fire\u201d\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/religious-news\/orthodox-being-misled-about-holy-fire\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Orthodox Being Misled About \u201cHoly Fire.\u201d<\/a> COGwriter, April 4, 2010) and back in 2015 I posted:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/orthodox.htm\">Eastern\/Greek Orthodox<\/a> &#8230; believe that \u2018Holy Fire\u2019 arrived again today &#8230; of course, real Christians do not believe that the above ceremony is a God-ordained miracle. The Eastern Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem should have the integrity to tell people the truth about this, but never does. (Thiel B. <a title=\"Orthodox \u2018Holy Fire miracle\u2019\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/prophecy\/orthodox-expect-holy-fire-tomorrow-and-consider-it-a-major-miracle\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Orthodox \u2018Holy Fire miracle\u2019.<\/a> COGwriter, April 11, 2015)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Well, a few years after I posted that, someone wrote a book where he mention that, privately, various members of the Orthodox clergy have admitted that this was a fraud.<\/p>\n<p>His reward for publishing the truth?<\/p>\n<p>He was sued! In late March 2024, he went to court.<\/p>\n<p>Here is some information about that:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Journalist Dimitris Alikakos is the man accused by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem of demeaning the tradition by spreading \u201cfake news.\u201d &#8230;<\/p>\n<p>In his book, he presents an interview with the skeuophylax Archbishop Isidoros of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, in which the latter admits that the \u201cSleepless Candle\u201d, which he, himself, puts into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre during the morning of the Holy Saturday, is ignited by him with a lighter.<\/p>\n<p>The former (1984\u20131988) skeuophylax (chamberlain) Archbishop Nikiforos makes the same acknowledgement, except that he was using matches.<\/p>\n<p>He said he would never accept that the Holy Fire was a miracle. \u201cMiracles happen when God decides, Not when we decide\u2026 Such \u201cmiracles\u201d are performed by charlatans and magicians, not the Church.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur faith cannot be based on scams,\u201d Nikiforos said. <a href=\"https:\/\/greekreporter.com\/2024\/03\/21\/holy-fire-jerusalem-miracle-or-scam\/\">https:\/\/greekreporter.com\/2024\/03\/21\/holy-fire-jerusalem-miracle-or-scam\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Greek investigative journalist Dimitris Alikakos published a book titled <em>Redemption\u2014The Case of the Holy Fire<\/em> in 2019. In it, he claims the holy fire springs up not from a miraculous beam of light but from a man with a lighter. Some of his journalistic methods were deceptive. But among other testimonies, he managed to obtain a video, now on the Internet, of Archbishop Isidoros, custodian and abbot of the holy sepulchre, stating how the candle gets lit. Alikakos asked Isidoros: \u201cYou go in, light [the fire] over the Holy Sepulchre, and leave [it] to be found lit by the patriarch. Is it so or not?\u201d The answer? \u201cSo it is.\u201d Later in the interview, Isidoros admitted, \u201cIt\u2019s not a miracle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Patriarchate of Jerusalem took Alikakos to court on March 20. According to Balkan Insight, the lawsuit claims, \u201cAs a result of the book\u2019s publication, many Orthodox believers have increasingly doubted their priests.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe plaintiffs have tried to hide the truth,\u201d Alikakos told the media. \u201cI feel great joy and satisfaction that their video testimonies were heard in court today, where they confess that the holy fire lights up naturally,\u201d as opposed to supernaturally. (Zekic MS. Playing With Fake Fire. Philadelphia Trumpet, May-June 2024)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Consider that the Orthodox priests also teach that theirs is the original faith, which it is not, hence they should be doubted (for details see the free online book: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/Original-Catholic-Beliefs.pdf\">Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?<\/a> and\/or the article: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/orthodox.htm\">Some Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the <em>Continuing<\/em> Church of God<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Consider also the following from decades ago:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<div><strong>Mystery of Jerusalem\u2019s Holy Fire comes to light<\/strong><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Telegraph<\/strong>, London \u2013 April 16, 2001 By Alan Philps in Jerusalem<\/p>\n<p>\u2026 one Armenian torch-bearer, Soukias Tchilingirian, felt the truth had to be told. He said: \u201cIt\u2019s not a miracle. The Greek priests bring in a lamp \u2013 one that has been kept burning for 1,500 years \u2013 to produce the Holy Fire. For pilgrims full of faith who come from abroad, it is a fire from Heaven, a true miracle. But not for us. Of course the source of the fire is ancient and symbolic. I heard this from my father and I think he knew the truth.\u201d <a title=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/news\/worldnews\/middleeast\/israel\/1311064\/Mystery-of-Jerusalems-Holy-Fire-comes-to-light.html\" href=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/news\/worldnews\/middleeast\/israel\/1311064\/Mystery-of-Jerusalems-Holy-Fire-comes-to-light.html\">http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/news\/worldnews\/middleeast\/israel\/1311064\/Mystery-of-Jerusalems-Holy-Fire-comes-to-light.html<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>As it turns out, Dimitris Alikakos was acquitted (not found guilty) on March 29, 2024:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>On Friday, Dimitris Alikakos, a Greek journalist, walked out of court in Athens without the shadow of prosecution for the first time in almost half a decade.<\/p>\n<p>His alleged crime: debunking miracles. &#8230;<\/p>\n<p>In 2018, Alikakos traveled to Jerusalem to investigate the ritual, which takes place every year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was never mentioned by the early church, or by the apostolic or later fathers in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th century,\u201d Alikakos\u2019 lawyer, Athanasios Anagnostopoulos, said. \u201cIt was never sanctioned as an article of faith by the ecumenical councils. In fact, it was initially a Frankish belief that emerged in the Middle Ages.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Alikakos told RNS that it was his own religious background that led him to the Investigation. \u201cMy father was an Orthodox priest, and he first talked to me about the fraud of the Holy Fire,\u201d he said. &#8230;<\/p>\n<p>The Patriarchate soon opened both criminal and civil cases against Alikakos and his publisher, charging them with defamation, confidentiality violations and personal data violations. They also brought a case against Google in an attempt to have Alikakos\u2019 video removed from YouTube.<\/p>\n<p>At the time, the church claimed that amongst their damages was that the Orthodox faithful would be led to doubt their priests.<\/p>\n<p>The patriarchate as an organization soon backed off the case, but Archbishop Isodoros had kept up the criminal charges against Alikakos until the journalist was finally acquitted of all charges on Friday. &#8230; Alikakos said he welcomed the attention the trial brought to his investigation. \u201cThe plaintiffs have tried to hide the truth. I feel great joy and satisfaction that their video testimonies were heard in court today, where they confess that the Holy Fire lights up naturally,\u201d &#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Though the matter ended in an acquittal, its longevity speaks to the powerful position the Orthodox church still holds in Greece, whose constitution deems it the \u201cprevailing religion\u201d of the modern Greek state.<\/p>\n<p>In recent years, Greek secularists have fought to<a href=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/2023\/09\/26\/greek-court-orthodox-students-cannot-be-exempted-from-religion-classes\/\"> decouple the church from Greece\u2019s public education system<\/a>, &#8230;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEssentially, today Greek secular justice decides whether it will sever the ties of our country with the Middle Ages or whether it will continue to blindly face eternally uncontrolled and unscrupulous monstrous fraudsters, as long as the latter wear a \u2018rassa,\u2019\u201d said Petros Tatsopoulos, a Greek journalist and former parliamentarian, using the Greek word for cassock.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/2024\/03\/29\/five-years-after-challenging-miracle-of-holy-fire-greek-journalist-is-acquitted\/\">https:\/\/religionnews.com\/2024\/03\/29\/five-years-after-challenging-miracle-of-holy-fire-greek-journalist-is-acquitted\/<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Yes, religious fraud is actually one reason that there are secularists.<\/p>\n<p>Anyway, notice the following report about the fire:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>April 18, 2025<\/p>\n<h2>Truth or fiction<\/h2>\n<p>Today, most churches reject the version that the descent of the Holy Fire is a miracle. There are two reasons for this:<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 the descent of the Holy Fire is not recorded in any Christian liturgical book, and therefore does not belong to the actions and rites that are officially approved by the Church;<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 the Jerusalem Church confirmed last year that there is a constantly burning lamp in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It is from it that the Holy Fire is lit. <a href=\"https:\/\/unn.ua\/en\/news\/the-holy-fire-truth-or-falsehood-where-to-watch-the-broadcast\">https:\/\/unn.ua\/en\/news\/the-holy-fire-truth-or-falsehood-where-to-watch-the-broadcast<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>So, there is always a fire burning in that church and that fire is apparently what is used to light the candles that are brought in. It is not a miracle nor is it holy.<\/p>\n<p>Here is more information about the history, etc. about the Orthodox fire:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3><a href=\"http:\/\/www.holyfire.org\/eng\/velich.html#content\" name=\"where\"><\/a> Where and when does the miracle occur?<\/h3>\n<p>The ceremony &#8230; takes place in the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.holyfire.org\/image\/hr_sverhu1.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Church of the Resurrection<\/a> in Jerusalem. The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.orthodoxinfo.com\/ecumenism\/calsci_ch9.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">date for Pascha<\/a> is determined anew for every year. It must be a first Sunday after the spring equinox and Jewish Passover. Therefore, most of the time it differs from the date of Catholic and Protestant Easter, which is determined using different criteria. The Holy Fire is the most renowned miracle in the world of Eastern Orthodoxy. <strong>It has taken place at the same time, in the same manner, in the same place every single year for centuries. <\/strong> No other miracle is known to occur so regularly and so steadily over time. No other miracle is known to occur so regularly and so steadily over time. It happens in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the holiest place on earth[2], where Christ was crucified, entombed, and where He finally rose from the dead. &#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Typically they wait from the afternoon of Holy Friday in anticipation of the miracle on Holy Saturday. Beginning at around 11:00 in the morning the Christian Arabs chant traditional hymns in a loud voice. These chants date back to the Turkish occupation of Jerusalem in the 13th century, a period in which the Christians were not allowed to chant anywhere but in the churches. &#8220;We are the Christians, we have been Christians for centuries, and we shall be forever and ever. Amen!&#8221; &#8211; they chant at the top of their voices accompanied by the sound of drums. The drummers sit on the shoulders of others who dance vigorously around the Holy Ciborium. But at 1:00 pm the chants fade out, and then there is a silence. A tense silence, charged from the anticipation of the great demonstration of God&#8217;s power for all to witness. Shortly thereafter, a delegation from the local authorities elbows its way through the crowd. At the time of the Turkish occupation of Palestine they were Muslim Turks; today they are Israelis. Their function is to represent the Romans at the time of Jesus. The Gospels speak of the Romans that went to seal the tomb of Jesus, so that his disciples would not steal his body and claim he had risen. In the same way the Israeli authorities on this Holy Saturday come and seal the tomb with wax. Before they seal the door, they follow a custom to enter the tomb, and to check for any hidden source of fire, which would make a fraud of the miracle. (http:\/\/www.holyfire.org\/eng\/, viewed 04\/11\/15)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Irrespective of where Jesus was killed, entombed, and rose from the dead, the Bible does not endorse that the possibility that leaders of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/orthodox.htm\">Eastern\/Greek Orthodox<\/a> could be involved in regular true miracles from Him. Furthermore, according to the Bible, the Passover is to be observed at night and on the 14th day of the first month of the biblical calendar&#8211;Eastern Orthodox scholars know this, but ignore when and how the true Passover is to be observed.The Bible itself warns about deceivers and forms of deception (2 Timothy 3:13).<\/p>\n<p>In 2013, <em>Wikipedia<\/em> had the following statements:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h2>Holy Fire<\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>Holy Fire<\/strong> (Greek \u1f0b\u03b3\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd \u03a6\u1ff6\u03c2, &#8220;<strong>Holy Light<\/strong>&#8220;) is described by Christians as a miracle that occurs every year at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Holy Saturday, the day preceding Orthodox Easter.<\/p>\n<h2>Description<\/h2>\n<p>Orthodox tradition holds that the Holy Fire is a miracle that happens annually on the day preceding Orthodox Easter, in which a blue light emanates either from the dome of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre or from the slab believed to be the &#8220;Stone of Anointing&#8221; upon which Jesus&#8217; body was prepared for burial, which eventually forms a column containing a form of fire, from which candles are lit, which are then used to light the candles of the clergy and pilgrims in attendance. Pilgrims and clergy claim that the Holy Fire does not burn them.<\/p>\n<p>The Holy Fire is brought to certain Orthodox countries, such as in Georgia, Greece, Russia, Belarus, Cyprus, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Macedonia, every year by special flights, being received with honors by state leaders at the respective airports.<\/p>\n<h2>History<\/h2>\n<p>The Holy Fire is first mentioned by the pilgrim Bernard the Monk, in 870 AD.[5] A detailed description of this phenomenon is contained in the travelogue of the Russian hegumen Daniil (Daniel), who was present at the ceremony in 1106 AD&#8230;<\/p>\n<h2>Criticism<\/h2>\n<p>As with all alleged miracles, many question the validity of the Holy Fire, noting, for instance, that cold-handed pilgrims generally withstand the fire for the same very brief periods of time as can be achieved with any fire.<\/p>\n<p>Criticism dates at least to the days of Islamic rule of Jerusalem, but the pilgrims were never stopped, because of the significant revenue they brought to local governments even at the end of the first millennium. When the apparently uninitiated Crusaders took over the Orthodox clergy in charge of the fire, it failed to appear, increasing the skepticism among Western Christians. But feeling the lack of pilgrim revenues, Baldwin I of Jerusalem reinstated the Orthodox priests in charge, and the fire, as well as the stream of revenues, returned.<\/p>\n<p>In 1238, Pope Gregory IX denounced the Holy Fire as a fraud and forbade Franciscans from participating in the ceremony.<\/p>\n<p>The Ottoman traveller, Evliya Celebi, claimed that a hidden zinc jar of naphtha was dripped down a chain by a hidden monk&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Dobrokhotov and other critics, including Russian Orthodox researcher Nikolay Uspensky,Dr. Aleksandr Musin of Sorbonne, and some Old Believers quote excerpts from the diaries of Bishop Porphyrius (Uspensky) (1804\u20131885) which told that the clergy in Jerusalem knew that the Holy Fire was fraudulent. (Holy Fire. Wikipedia, May 5, 2013)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>So, this &#8216;holy fire&#8217; event supposedly began over eight centuries after the resurrection of Jesus. Hence, it is certainly not an original Christian practice, and I (and many others) have long asserted that it is NOT a miracle from God.<\/p>\n<p>Why is there any importance of this at this <em>Church of God News<\/em> page?<\/p>\n<p>Now, despite the hoax of &#8216;Holy Fire,&#8217; the Bible warns that someone will come with signs and lying wonders to mislead the world:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Notice that almost all will be deceived by the coming signs.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, notice that &#8220;fire from heaven&#8221; will be one of those signs:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that<strong> he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men<\/strong>. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. (Revelation 13:11-14)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Yes, someone will be able to bring real fire down from heaven (through demonic assistance&#8211;cf. Revelation 16:14)&#8211;this and certain other signs will NOT be faked.<\/p>\n<p>By historically believing in &#8220;holy fire&#8221; many Orthodox have unknowingly been setting themselves up to accept the signs and lying wonders that the Bible warns about. The acceptance of signs and lying wonders over the truth of the Bible is part of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/satans-plan.htm\">Satan&#8217;s Plan<\/a>. All, including the non-Orthodox, need to understand that signs and wonders are NOT of themselves proof that something is of God, including the annual ritual of &#8220;holy fire.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>So, when reports come out about this prophecy in Revelation 13:13 being fulfilled, please realize that just because fire is shown, does not mean that God caused it nor that the religion that the beast will be promoting is the true one.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, at least partially because of that deception, most of humanity will, for a time, accept a compromised religion that IS NOT &#8220;the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints&#8221; (Jude 3).<\/p>\n<p>DO NOT FALL FOR IT!<\/p>\n<p>Anyway, God HAS NOT BEEN PROVIDING HOLY FIRE ON THESE ORTHODOX ANNUAL SATURDAYS. Those who believe that He did are deceived.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, even if you are not Eastern Orthodox, you need to consider whether or not you believe and practice the original faith that is laid out in the Bible (see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/continuing-history-of-the-church-of-god.pdf\">Continuing History of the Church of God<\/a>), and even if you somewhat do, if you are supporting the truest Christian church (see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/WhereistheTrueChristianChurchToday.pdf\">Where is the True Christian Church Today?<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p><em>Some items of possibly related interest may include:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/satans-plan.htm\">Satan&#8217;s Plan<\/a> Does Satan have a plan? What is it? Has it already been successful? Will it be successful in the future? Here are links to a two-part sermon series: <a dir=\"ltr\" title=\"What are Some of the Parts of Satan's Plan?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=E91uRGBwFlE&amp;list=UUOuL5Q2Xi9HZqU6GivhxveQ\" data-sessionlink=\"feature=c4-overview-u&amp;ved=CC4Qvxs&amp;ei=OozXVMOmEI3x-QOW2oGACg\">What are Some of the Parts of Satan&#8217;s Plan?<\/a> and <a dir=\"ltr\" title=\"Satan's Plan is More Dramatic than Many Realize\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=vv0e1AY22wU\" data-sessionlink=\"ei=RNDgVJuMBonv-QPz04KYCg&amp;feature=c4-overview&amp;ved=CCAQvxs\">Satan&#8217;s Plan is More Dramatic than Many Realize<\/a>.<br \/>\n<span class=\"style17\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/edessa.htm\">Early Christianity in Edessa and the Church of the East<\/a> Could there have been Christian leaders there? Might Judas of Jerusalem went there? Could Macarius have been a faithful Christian? <\/span><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/Original-Catholic-Beliefs.pdf\">Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church<\/a>. Did the original \u201ccatholic church\u201d have doctrines held by the Continuing Church of God? Did Church of God leaders uses the term \u201ccatholic church\u201d to ever describe the church they were part of? Here are links to related sermons: <a id=\"video-title220\" title=\"Original Catholic Church of God?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=OxA8OvmMJSM\" aria-label=\"Original Catholic Church of God? by ContinuingCoG 5 minutes ago 1 hour, 18 minutes 1 view\">Original Catholic Church of God?<\/a>, <a id=\"video-title128\" title=\"Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=p4-ZikGMyjY\" aria-label=\"Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover by ContinuingCoG 2 hours ago 1 hour, 23 minutes 16 views\">Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover<\/a>, and <a id=\"video-title128\" title=\"What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fTgsNMHCDoI\" aria-label=\"What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna? by ContinuingCoG 5 minutes ago 1 hour, 11 minutes 1 view\">What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?<\/a>, <a id=\"video-title128\" title=\"Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, &amp; Celibacy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=jJpjZ0Y6Oo8\" aria-label=\"Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, &amp; Celibacy by ContinuingCoG 11 minutes ago 1 hour, 18 minutes No views\">Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, &amp; Celibacy<\/a>, and <a id=\"video-title128\" title=\"Early Heresies and Heretics\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=gTdKQz5WXxM\" aria-label=\"Early Heresies and Heretics by ContinuingCoG 7 minutes ago 1 hour, 10 minutes 3 views\">Early Heresies and Heretics<\/a>, and <a id=\"video-title128\" title=\"Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=-d5u_CaP8sw\" aria-label=\"Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats by ContinuingCoG 2 hours ago 1 hour, 17 minutes 31 views\">Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats<\/a>, <a id=\"video-title128\" title=\"Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Fs5qeCgQdvU\" aria-label=\"Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more. by ContinuingCoG 1 hour, 17 minutes No views\">Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more<\/a>, and <a id=\"video-title128\" title=\"Fourth Commandment: Saturday or Sunday?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=xzTwpJsqj9c\" aria-label=\"Fourth Commandment: Saturday or Sunday? by ContinuingCoG 1 hour ago 1 hour, 15 minutes No views\">Saturday or Sunday?<\/a>, <a id=\"video-title233\" title=\"The Godhead\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=GXQodLkbDLw\" aria-label=\"The Godhead by ContinuingCoG 1 hour, 15 minutes 10 views\">The Godhead<\/a>, <a id=\"video-title243\" title=\"Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=deoyNNl49UY\" aria-label=\"Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession by ContinuingCoG 1 hour ago 1 hour, 21 minutes 20 views\">Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession<\/a>, and <a id=\"video-title244\" title=\"Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=S74Yz-XrsBY\" aria-label=\"Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List by ContinuingCoG 1 hour, 18 minutes 17 views\">Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List<\/a>.<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/passover.htm\">Passover and the Early Church<\/a> Did the early Christians observe Passover? What did Jesus and Paul teach? Why did Jesus die for our sins? There is also a detailed YouTube video available titled <a title=\"History of the Christian Passover\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=A2waU-cRdxM\" data-sessionlink=\"ei=F2otUfzYJ8qThgHWooFg&amp;feature=plcp\">History of the Christian Passover<\/a>.<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/easter.htm\">Did Early Christians Celebrate Easter?<\/a> If not, when did this happen? Where did Easter come from? What do scholars and the Bible reveal? Here is a link to a video titled <a title=\"Why Easter?\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AC46iau3724\" data-sessionlink=\"ei=L_RSUfbGHNWFhgHWwoH4Aw&amp;feature=plcp\">Why Easter?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/Original-Catholic-Beliefs.pdf\">Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?<\/a> Did the original \u201ccatholic church\u201d have doctrines held by the <em>Continuing<\/em> Church of God? Did Church of God leaders uses the term \u201ccatholic church\u201d to ever describe the church they were part of? Here are links to related sermons: <a id=\"video-title220\" title=\"Original Catholic Church of God?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=OxA8OvmMJSM\" aria-label=\"Original Catholic Church of God? by ContinuingCoG 5 minutes ago 1 hour, 18 minutes 1 view\">Original Catholic Church of God?<\/a>, <a id=\"video-title128\" title=\"Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=p4-ZikGMyjY\" aria-label=\"Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover by ContinuingCoG 2 hours ago 1 hour, 23 minutes 16 views\">Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover<\/a>, <a id=\"video-title128\" title=\"What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fTgsNMHCDoI\" aria-label=\"What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna? by ContinuingCoG 5 minutes ago 1 hour, 11 minutes 1 view\">What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?<\/a>, <a id=\"video-title128\" title=\"Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, &amp; Celibacy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=jJpjZ0Y6Oo8\" aria-label=\"Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, &amp; Celibacy by ContinuingCoG 11 minutes ago 1 hour, 18 minutes No views\">Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, &amp; Celibacy<\/a>, <a id=\"video-title128\" title=\"Early Heresies and Heretics\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=gTdKQz5WXxM\" aria-label=\"Early Heresies and Heretics by ContinuingCoG 7 minutes ago 1 hour, 10 minutes 3 views\">Early Heresies and Heretics<\/a>, <a id=\"video-title128\" title=\"Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=-d5u_CaP8sw\" aria-label=\"Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats by ContinuingCoG 2 hours ago 1 hour, 17 minutes 31 views\">Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats<\/a>, <a id=\"video-title128\" title=\"Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Fs5qeCgQdvU\" aria-label=\"Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more. by ContinuingCoG 1 hour, 17 minutes No views\">Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more<\/a>, <a id=\"video-title128\" title=\"Fourth Commandment: Saturday or Sunday?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=xzTwpJsqj9c\" aria-label=\"Fourth Commandment: Saturday or Sunday? by ContinuingCoG 1 hour ago 1 hour, 15 minutes No views\">Saturday or Sunday?<\/a>, <a id=\"video-title233\" title=\"The Godhead\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=GXQodLkbDLw\" aria-label=\"The Godhead by ContinuingCoG 1 hour, 15 minutes 10 views\">The Godhead<\/a>, <a id=\"video-title243\" title=\"Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=deoyNNl49UY\" aria-label=\"Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession by ContinuingCoG 1 hour ago 1 hour, 21 minutes 20 views\">Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession<\/a>, <a id=\"video-title244\" title=\"Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=S74Yz-XrsBY\" aria-label=\"Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List by ContinuingCoG 1 hour, 18 minutes 17 views\">Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List<\/a>, <a id=\"video-title288\" title=\"Holy Mother Church and Heresies\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=9XS6eAEXOHs\" aria-label=\"Holy Mother Church and Heresies by ContinuingCoG 1 hour ago 1 hour, 14 minutes 19 views\">Holy Mother Church and Heresies<\/a>, and\u00a0<a id=\"video-title288\" title=\"Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=u1182A37tsw\" aria-label=\"Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs by ContinuingCoG 2 hours ago 1 hour, 16 minutes 31 views\">Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs<\/a>. Here is a link to that book in the Spanish language:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/CreenciasOriginales.pdf\">Creencias de la iglesia Cat\u00f3lica original<\/a>.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sdawhite.htm\">Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666<\/a> Who is 666? This article explains how the CCOG views this, and compares this to Ellen White.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/orthodox.htm\">Some Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the <em>Continuing<\/em> Church of God<\/a> Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are? Here is a link to a related sermon: <a id=\"video-title133\" title=\"Eastern Orthodox 40+ Similar Beliefs to the CCOG\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=6ANaQRSsmuQ\" aria-label=\"Eastern Orthodox 40+ Similar Beliefs to the CCOG by ContinuingCoG 1 minute ago 1 hour, 20 minutes No views\">Eastern Orthodox 40+ Similar Beliefs to the CCOG<\/a>.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/antichrist.htm\">Some Doctrines of Antichrist<\/a> Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist? This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of &#8220;the false prophet.&#8221; Plus it shows that several Catholic writers seem to warn about an ecumenical antipope that will support heresy.<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/american-catholics-should-fear-unity-with-greek-orthodox.htm\">Why Should American Catholics Fear Unity with the Orthodox?<\/a> Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster? Is doctrinal compromise good? Here is a link to a related video <a dir=\"ltr\" title=\"Should you be concerned abou the ecumenical movement?\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=qTGcoa2vaH4\" data-sessionlink=\"ei=71yzUrj1PMPZsQfi4IGIBQ&amp;ved=CAwQvxs&amp;feature=c4-feed-u\">Should you be concerned about the ecumenical movement?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/protestant-ecumenism.htm\">Beware: Protestants Going Towards Ecumenical Destruction!<\/a> What is going on in the Protestant world? Are Protestants turning back to their \u2018mother church\u2019 in Rome? Does the Bible warn about this? What are Catholic plans and prophecies related to this? Is Protestantism doomed? There is also a video: <a dir=\"ltr\" title=\"Charismatic Kenneth Copeland and Anglican Tony Palmer Protestants Beware!\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=WalDQEqiFLk\" data-sessionlink=\"feature=c4-feed-u&amp;ei=ekkOU7zsOMnT8wHe-oCYDA&amp;ved=CCgQvxs\">Charismatic Kenneth Copeland and Anglican Tony Palmer: Protestants Beware! <\/a><br \/>\n<a title=\"Permanent Link: Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/prophecy\/orthodox-must-reject-unity-with-the-roman-catholics\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics<\/a> Unity between these groups will put them in position to be part of the final end time Babylon that the Bible warns against as well as require improper compromise.<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/WhereistheTrueChristianChurchToday.pdf\">Where is the True Christian Church Today?<\/a> This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: <a dir=\"ltr\" title=\"Where is the True Christian Church?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=adMl1PWrg_Q&amp;list=UUOuL5Q2Xi9HZqU6GivhxveQ\" data-sessionlink=\"feature=c4-overview-u&amp;ei=7KwLVLmCKtOp-AP--oDwCw&amp;ved=CBoQvxs\">Where is the True Christian Church? <\/a>Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: <a title=\"\u00bfD\u00f3nde est\u00e1 la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy?\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cdlidd.es\/donde-esta-la-verdadera-iglesia-cristiana-de-hoy\/\">\u00bfD\u00f3nde est\u00e1 la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy?<\/a> Here is a link in the German language: <a title=\"WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE?\" href=\"http:\/\/ccog.eu\/wo-ist-die-wahre-christliche-kirche-heute\/\">WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE?<\/a> Here is a link in the French language: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/WhereistheTrueChristianChurchTodayFrancais.pdf\">O\u00f9 est la vraie \u00c9glise Chr\u00e9tienne aujourd\u2019hui?<\/a> Here is a link to a short animation: <a id=\"video-title79\" title=\"Which Church would Jesus Choose?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Kr460BB6H8g\" aria-label=\"Which Church would Jesus Choose? by CCOG Animations 2 days ago 9 minutes, 17 seconds 17 views\">Which Church would Jesus Choose?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/continuing-history-of-the-church-of-god.pdf\">Continuing History of the Church of God<\/a> This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include <a dir=\"ltr\" title=\"Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=PXCPA0iYaJo&amp;list=UUOuL5Q2Xi9HZqU6GivhxveQ\" data-sessionlink=\"ei=nmUzU7WvGNWq-QO4g4D4Aw&amp;feature=c4-overview-u&amp;ved=CBEQvxs\">Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D<\/a>. and <a dir=\"ltr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=d5NhF3soRNc&amp;list=UUOuL5Q2Xi9HZqU6GivhxveQ\" aria-describedby=\"description-id-915637\" data-sessionlink=\"ei=tDaQVJWkEsuQqgW364CwDQ&amp;ved=CBEQvxs&amp;feature=c4-overview-u\">Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries<\/a> and <a title=\"Continuing History of the Church of God: 17th-20th Centuries\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=bqJj1he1CYY\" data-sessionlink=\"ei=ZoZTV5LVO8vC-wPVn6TwDQ&amp;feature=c4-overview&amp;ved=CEUQ0h4YACITCJKgw-zjj80CFUvhfgod1Q8J3iibHA\">Continuing History of the Church of God: 17th-20th Centuries<\/a>. The booklet is available in Spanish: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/HistoryChurch-SpanishFinal.pdf\">Continuaci\u00f3n de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios<\/a>, German: <a href=\"http:\/\/ccog.eu\/kontinuierliche-geschichte-der-kirche-gottes\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes<\/a>, French: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/histoire-continue-de-lglise-de-dieu-french.pdf\">L \u0019Histoire <em>Continue<\/em> de l \u0019\u00c9glise de Dieu<\/a> and Ekegusii <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/ChurchHistory-Ekegusii.pdf\">Omogano Bw\u2019ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete<\/a>.<strong><b><br \/>\n<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Happening now: the Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Thousands of Eastern Orthodox Christians from around the world participate in the Holy Fire Ceremony in Jerusalem \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf1 We wish all those celebrating Orthodox Easter a meaningful and peaceful\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/QRYZKqfegR \u2014 Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) May 4, 2024 COGwriter Emperor [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-100094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-doctrine"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100094","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=100094"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100094\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":100622,"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100094\/revisions\/100622"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100094"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=100094"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=100094"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}